A 2021 peer-reviewed interview study of six former Witnesses (Ransom, Monk & Heim, Journal of Religion and Health) reported that ostracism after leaving 'can be associated with diminished mental health', that participants likened the loss of family and friends to grieving the living, that one participant reported two suicide attempts and another self-destructive behaviour, and that one described a son’s suicide after he was disfellowshipped.

Journal of Religion and Health, 61(3): 2458-2480 (online 19 Jan 2021; issue June 2022), “Grieving the Living: The Social Death of Former Jehovah’s Witnesses”

19 January 2021 · pp.2458-2480 · Abstract; Results · Heather J. Ransom; Rebecca L. Monk; Derek Heim · Springer (open access, CC BY)

“Narratives suggest that experiences of ostracism following religious exit can be associated with diminished mental health, while having a sense of agency and establishing new (online) social connections may help mitigate adverse consequences.”

Six former JWs in the UK (aged 25 to 60s; disfellowshipped or disassociated), semi-structured interviews analysed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: 'the sudden loss of contact with loved [ones] was akin to grieving their living friends and family'; one participant reported two suicide attempts, another self-destructive behaviour, and a third described her son’s suicide after he was disfellowshipped and one a son's suicide after disfellowshipping; 'the indication is that being disfellowshipped may potentially have serious implications to physical and mental health'.

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